Prefabricated highway system

ABSTRACT

A prefabricated roadway system consisting of interconnected roadway slabs constructed from (ferro-cement) reinforced concrete and including a service module or console for location along the sides of the roadway. The module includes a built-in drain gutter which is connected to a sewer pipe going through the modules as well as provision for TV, telephone, and electrical cables, pneumatic mail chutes, water, gas, oil, steam and the like.

United States Patent [191 Stelling 1 1 Jan.23,1973

[54] PREFABRICATED HIGHWAY SYSTEM [76] Inventor: William Stelling, 175 W. 72nd St.,

New York, NY. 10023 [22] Filed: Aug. 5, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.: 61,114

[52] US. Cl ..94/4, 94/31 [51] Int. Cl ..E0lc 9/00 [58] Field 01 Search ..94/4,11,12,18, 31, 33

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 945,312 1/1910 Firth ..94/31.l

3,157,254 11/1964 Spiselman ..94/4 X 2,174,035 9/1939 Henderson ..94/l2 X 2,116,033 5/1938 Malone ..94/4 2,141,559 12/1938 Robertson ..94ll8 3,263,577 8/1966 l-liller ..'....94/31.3 X 454,155 6/1891 Readman ..94/31 X 776,419 11/1904 Platt ..94/12 X Primary Examiner-Nile C. Byers, Jr. An0meyAl1ison C. Collard [57] ABSTRACT A prefabricated roadway system consisting of interconnected roadway slabs constructed from (ferro-cement) reinforced concrete and including a service module or console for location along the sides of the roadway. The module includes a built-in drain gutter which is connected to a sewer pipe going through the modules as well as provision for TV, telephone, and electrical cables, pneumatic mail chutes, water, gas, oil, steam and the like.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAH 23 ms SHEET 1 BF 3 INVENTOR) WILLIAM STELLING BY I Q Q ATTORNEY PATENTEDJMB I975 3.712.187

SHEEI 2 UF 3 I iilll' INVENTOR. WILLIAM STELLING WQQMQ ATTORNEY PATENTEUJAH 23 I975 SHEET 3 0F 3 FM K INVENTOR. WILLIAM STELLING ATTORNEY PREFABRICATED HIGHWAY SYSTEM This invention relates to prefabricated roadways and the like.

More specifically, this invention relates to prefabricated roadway systems and service facilities which are constructed from interconnected concrete slabs and consoles and the like.

Conventional roadway systems are generally constructed over land surfaces by grading the surfaces and constructing a road bed onto which is further fabricated, a steel grid so as to receive concrete of a predetermined thickness. Drains and electrical facilities which are generally associated with the conventional roadway are also permanently constructed by laying electrical cables and sewer pipes beneath the ground, either adjacent or underneath the established roadway. This conventional method of constructing roadways is considered costly since a great deal of handwork is involved to complete the roadways and completion of the roads is subject to seasonal delays such as bad weather. Attempts to overcome the disadvantages of constructing conventional roadways consist of fabricating prestressed concrete slabs of predetermined width and length in a factory or remote location, and then transporting the slabs to the desired location for securement to a road bed.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a complete roadway system constructed from prefabricated materials which not only establish the roadway in a quick and economical method, but also establish the roadway service facilities such as drainage and electrical supply. In the present invention, the roadway surfaces are constructed from substantially flat concrete slab sections which are reinforced and include holes along the sides of the slabs to serve as a means for interconnecting adjacent slabs. Running along the side of the road bed is a service module or console which provides a drain open to the edge of the roadway, and also includes a plurality of tubes and pipes for service facilities. The drain can be connected to a sewer pipe already within the module which can be connected to a larger sewer pipe which is permanently buried below the road bed. The service module may also include a pneumatic mail tube, electrical conductors, TV cable services, water, gas and oil facilities. The modules are interconnected endwise and are sealed against leakage. Specialized modules can also be provided for fire hydrants, mail facilities and services to buildings. The sidewalks are also constructed from concrete slabs similar to that of the roadways but narrower in width, and mounted adjacent to the service modules.

It is, therefore, an object according to the present invention to provide a precast roadway and service facility.

It is another object according to the present invention to provide a precast roadway and service facility which is readily adapted for fast installation at lower costs.

It is still a further object according to the present invention to provide an improved roadway system which is simple in design, easy to manufacture and efficient in operation.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose the embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of the roadway system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken through one section of the roadway system;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a service module of the roadway system;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through section 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the bottom of the concrete runway slab of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the placement of the roadway system of the invention along a ground surface;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the roadway system of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of a roadway slab of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a partially exploded view of the roadway system according to the present invention having a plurality of prestressed concrete slabs 10 which are capable of supporting heavy loads, such as those experienced on the roadway. Slabs 10 are supported on the flanges of T-shaped beams 12 and 13. Beam 12 includes a plurality of spaced-apart holes 18 which correspond to holes 17 along the edge of slab 10. Fastening devices are inserted through holes 18 for connection to holes 17 to firmly support and secure slab 10 to beam 12. Likewise, beam 13 includes a plurality of spaced-apart holes 14 which correspond to holes 15 along the other edge of slab 10 for fastening and securing the slab to the beam. Each of slabs 10 also include corner holes 16 which permit the manual control of the connecting manuals. A plastic disc is utilized to cover each of these holes 16 after the roadway has been assembled. Along the center median between segments of slabs 10 are disposed a divider 20 which includes a vertical longitudinally extending slot for receiving the top edge of beam 13. As shown in detail in FIG. 2, divider 20, which may be constructed of a plastic material, is held in place by the compressive forces ekerted by fastening devices 19 which join adjacent flanges of hollow slabs 10 along their line of interconnection. Fastening devices 19 are fitted through holes 15 on slab 10, and holes 14 on beam 13. Likewise, fasteners 21 on the adjacent corners of the slabs 10 are connected through holes 18 of beam 12, and holes 17 of slabs 10 to complete the longitudinal securement of the slabs.

As shown in detail in FIG. 5, each of slabs 10 are constructed with a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinal ribs 22 which intersect at right angles, lateral ribs 23, so as to form a plurality of hollow chambers throughout the bottom surface of the slab. Ribs 22 and 23 are integrally formed with the entire slab construction and further include reinforcing rods 24 which may be steel rods as shown in FIG. 2.

Disposed along the edges of roadway slabs are a plurality of service modules 11 having a drain opening 25 for receiving the drain water from slabs 10. The drain water which is collected from opening 25 passes through apertures 26 into sewer line 27 which lies along the bottom of service module 11. Service module 11 also includes an integrally formed steam pipe 28, and oil pipe 29, a water pipe 30, and a pneumatic mail pipe 31 which permits messages to be transmitted under pressure. Service module 11 also includes TV cables 32, electrical cable 33, and telephone cable along its top surface. Covers 35 along the top surface of module 11 provide access to cables 32-34 for service and maintenance. Each of pipes or tubes 27-34 are recessed slightly on one end of service module 11 to receive correspondingly projected pipes from the other end of an adjoining service module so as to provide an overlapping of the pipes and permit a sealant to completely seal the pipes when adjacent modules are joined together. These projected portions of pipes or tubes 27-34 are shown in detail in the module of FIG. 3.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, slab 10 rests on the entrance shelf of drain opening 25. In this particular embodiment of service module 1 l, the various services are brought outside of the module as shown in pipes 28A-34A for connection to a building structure and the like. A fire hydrant 37 is also shown mounted on the top surface of module 11 and connects to water pipe 30 through the internal structure of the module (not shown). Sewer pipe 27 connects through line 27A to a larger sewer pipe 36 which may be located below service module 11 or be disposed many feet below the ground as is well known in conventional sewers.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown the completed roadway system consisting of a plurality of interconnected slabs 10 which are longitudinally secured by T-shaped beams 13, and include median strip 20. Slabs 10 may be laid flat or slightly camel backed to permit surface waters to drain into openings 25 of modules 11 positioned on each side of the slabs. Sidewalks 50 which are constructed in a similar manner to slabs 10 slope downward toward the roadway of slab 10 so that they can drain across the top of service modules 11 into slot 25. A buried sewer pipe 36A which can be similar to pipe 36 of FIG. 3 will serve as the main sewer for receiving a discharge from pipe 27 located in modules 11.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown another embodiment of the invention, wherein slab 60 includes reinforcement rods 24 and a plurality of extending ribs 53 which have a semicircular cross section. Fasteners 52 are utilized to join adjacent sections of slabs 60 together through beam 13. A resilient coupling 51 is fitted over beam 13 and serves to cushion the securing sides of slabs 60 with respect to the surface of beam 13. Slabs 10, 50 and 60 may be constructed from reinforced concrete, plastocement, ferro-cement or other types of synthetic and nonsynthetic building materials. Likewise, service modules 11 may also be constructed from similar materials. Beams l2 and 13 may be constructed from any rigid supporting material, such as steel or aluminum, which will provide additional rigidity and support for slabs 10, 50 and 60. Road divider may be constructed of any resilient material, such as neoprene, plastic or rubber, and its top surface may be colored yellow, red or other identifying color in conformance with safety regulations. Likewise, insert pad 51 may be constructed from any resilient material, such as rubber, neoprene, plastic and the like, which serves to cushion adjacent slabs when they are mounted to their respective beams.

While only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved prefabricated roadway system, comprising:

a plurality of rectangular-shaped, longitudinally extending rigid slabs of material, having a smooth top surface reinforced by a plurality of cylindrical rods embedded therein, and a plurality of intersecting reinforcing ribs, integrally formed on the bottom.

surface of said slabs perpendicular to each other and to the edges of said rectangular slabs, the peripheral edges of said slabs also including a plurality of spaced-apart mounting apertures therein;

a plurality of T-shaped beams having a plurality of spaced-apart mounting apertures provided in the edges thereof, for engaging and supporting the edges of said slabs, said apertures in said beams being positioned in alignment with said apertures provided in said slabs;

plurality of fastening means slidably disposed through said apertures in said beams and said slabs at adjacent edges thereof for securing saidslabs and said beams together to form a roadway;

plurality of curb members disposed endwise together at the lateral edges of said roadway formed by said slabs and having an elongated, horizontally-disposed, rectangular-shaped aperture provided therein,ithe lower edge of which receives and supports the lateral edges of said slabs of said roadway, and further, including at least one longitudinally extending annular drain pipe integrally formed therein coupled to said rectangular opening by a triangular drain passage for draining the water from the surface of said slabs; and

a T-shaped, resilient coupling member, having a vertically disposed, elongated slot provided in the vertical leg thereof, and disposed between adjoining slabs over said T-shaped beams, the top surface of said member being are shaped so as to project slightly above the top surface of said adjoining slabs, and having an elongated vertically disposed strip affixed thereto for providing a roadway divider..

2. The roadway system asrecited in claim 1, wherein said curb members are provided at one end thereof with circular bores, adjacent the ends of said plurality of tubes and said drain pipe, having a diameter slightly larger than said tubes and said drain pipes, and a plurality of annular projections at the other end thereof affixed to the ends of, and having the same diameter as said tubes and said drain pipe, said annular projections being received by said annular bores so that said curb members are coupled together endwise adjacent the ends of said slabs.

said curb members further comprise a plurality of annular tubes disposed perpendicular to said plurality of elongated tubes and said drain pipes and coupled thereto for connecting corresponding service pipes to said drain pipes, electrical power cables, RF transmission cables, oil, steam, gas and water pipes, and pneumatic mail chute pipes. 

1. An improved prefabricated roadway system, comprising: a plurality of rectangular-shaped, longitudinally extending rigid slabs of material, having a smooth top surface reinforced by a plurality of cylindrical rods embedded therein, and a plurality of intersecting reinforcing ribs, integrally formed on the bottom surface of said slabs perpendicular to each other and to the edges of said rectangular slabs, the peripheral edges of said slabs also including a plurality of spaced-apart mounting apertures therein; a plurality of T-shaped beams having a plurality of spaced-apart mounting apertures provided in the edges thereof, for eNgaging and supporting the edges of said slabs, said apertures in said beams being positioned in alignment with said apertures provided in said slabs; a plurality of fastening means slidably disposed through said apertures in said beams and said slabs at adjacent edges thereof for securing said slabs and said beams together to form a roadway; a plurality of curb members disposed endwise together at the lateral edges of said roadway formed by said slabs and having an elongated, horizontally-disposed, rectangular-shaped aperture provided therein, the lower edge of which receives and supports the lateral edges of said slabs of said roadway, and further including at least one longitudinally extending annular drain pipe integrally formed therein coupled to said rectangular opening by a triangular drain passage for draining the water from the surface of said slabs; and a T-shaped, resilient coupling member, having a vertically disposed, elongated slot provided in the vertical leg thereof, and disposed between adjoining slabs over said T-shaped beams, the top surface of said member being arc shaped so as to project slightly above the top surface of said adjoining slabs, and having an elongated vertically disposed strip affixed thereto for providing a roadway divider.
 2. The roadway system as recited in claim 1, wherein said curb members are provided at one end thereof with circular bores, adjacent the ends of said plurality of tubes and said drain pipe, having a diameter slightly larger than said tubes and said drain pipes, and a plurality of annular projections at the other end thereof affixed to the ends of, and having the same diameter as said tubes and said drain pipe, said annular projections being received by said annular bores so that said curb members are coupled together endwise adjacent the ends of said slabs.
 3. The roadway system as recited in claim 2, wherein said curb members further comprise a plurality of elongated, isolated, parallel, longitudinally extending tubes, integrally formed within said curb members, for receiving electrical power cables, RF signal transmission cables, oil, steam, gas and water flow pipes, and pneumatic mail chute pipes.
 4. The roadway system as recited in claim 3, wherein said curb members further comprise a plurality of annular tubes disposed perpendicular to said plurality of elongated tubes and said drain pipes and coupled thereto for connecting corresponding service pipes to said drain pipes, electrical power cables, RF transmission cables, oil, steam, gas and water pipes, and pneumatic mail chute pipes. 